[0001] This invention is concerned with new use of cyclic anthranilic acid derivatives,
their acid and alkali salts thereof which have therapeutic effects on metabolic bone
diseases and inhibitory effects on bone resorption.
[0002] Metabolic bone diseases as generic term include osteoporosis, osteomalacia and ostetic
fibrous. In patients with these diseases, there are morbid changes in weight, constitution
and structure of bone as a result of the failure of systemic bone formation and resorption
process. This is caused by the abnormalities in the somatological regulatory system
due to various hormones or vitamins, and by the congenital or acquired abnormalities
of the functions of the osteocytes. It is also associated with abnormal calcium and
phosphorus metabolism. Vitamin D, calcium, calcitonin and phosphorus are used as therapeutic
agents, but their effectiveness has not been clearly proven and development of a superior
drug has been strongly desired.
[0003] It has been reported that 3-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one derivative (Ipriflavone)
and 2-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one derivative have inhibitory effect on bone resorption
and may be useful as therapeutic agents for osteoporosis. However, their efficacy
is not sufficient as therapeutic agents for metabolic bone diseases.
[0004] Previously, we have found that cyclic anthranilic acid derivatives represented by
a general formula (I), their acid or alkali salts thereof have immunomodulatory activity
and high potency for induction of suppressor T cells, and have therapeutic effects
on adjuvant arthritis (Japanese Patent Application No. 236295/88 which corresponding
to Japan Kokai 279867/89 and EP-A-0 310 096).

wherein R¹, R² and R³ each independently indicate a hydrogen atom, chlorine atom,
lower alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, lower alkoxy group having 1 to 3 carbon
atoms, amino group, nitro group, hydroxy group, sulfonamide groups trifluoromethyl
group, cyano group, carboxyl group, carbamoyl group, acetyl group, benzoylmethyl group
which may be substituted, methylthio group, phenylethynyl group which may be substituted,
alkanoylamino group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, benzoylamino group which may be substituted,
alkylsulfonylamino group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or phenylsulfonylamino group which
may be substituted; R⁴ and R⁵ each independently indicate a hydrogen atom, lower alkyl
group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, cyano group, carboxyl group, hydroxymethyl group,
phenyl group which may be substituted or benzoyl group, R⁶ indicates a hydrogen atom,
lower alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or benzyl group; X indicates a methylene
group, oxygen atom, sulfur atom, sulfinyl group or sulfonyl group.
[0005] Further to our previous finding, we have found that the compounds represented by
the general formula (I) have unexpectedly high potency to inhibit bone resorption,
safe enough, and are useful as therapeutic agents for metabolic bone diseases. Among
the compounds represented by the general formula (I), we show typical examples that
support the usefulness of the present invention. These example compounds can be synthesized
by the method reported in Japan Kokai 279867/89 (EP-A-0 310 096).

Experiment 1
Inhibition of bone resorption
[0006] ⁴⁵Ca prelabeled rat embryonic limbs for the measurement of bone resorption were prepared
by the method of Raisz (J. Clin. Invest.
44, 103 (1965)). Briefly, 17th day pregnant SD rats were injected subcutaneously with
200 µCi of calcium-45 as calcium chloride. Two days later, the rats were killed, the
embryos removed and washed with sterilized phosphated buffer solution (PBS). The forelimbs
were dissected free of muscle and the cartilagious ends were cut off. The bone shaft
was cultured with BGJb medium containing 20 % bovine serum albumin (BSA).
[0007] The effect of each example compound of this invention on bone resorption was assessed
by the method of Tsuda et al (J. Bone & Mineral Res.
1, 207 (1986)) with slight modification. Briefly, the trimmed bone was precultured
for 24 hours at 37 °C and in an atmosphere of 5 % CO₂ in air on a millipore filter
immersed in 0.6 ml of BGJb medium containing 20 % BSA. 24-well plate was used for
culture. The bone on the filter was then transferred to a new well filled with the
medium containing the compounds of this invention with or without IL-1β and cultured
for 72 hours. 0.3 ml of the supernatant was collected and used to determine the ⁴⁵Ca
release from the bone. The bone was immersed in 0.3 ml of 1 N HCl for not less than
90 minutes, and 10 ml of ACS II scintillator was added so as to measure the radioactivity
in a liquid scintillation counter. The activity of bone resorption was expressed as
percent of ⁴⁵Ca release to supernatant from labeled bone (sum of the radioactivity
of the bone and the medium). One bone was cultured on one well and each experimental
group consisted of 5 or 6 bones derived from fetus in one pregnant rat. The activity
of bone resorption was determined by the formula.

U: ⁴⁵Ca release without adding IL-1β
C: ⁴⁵Ca release by adding IL-1β
T: ⁴⁵Ca release by adding IL-1β and example compound
Table 1
Compound No. |
Concentration (µg/ml) |
Inhibition (%) |
1 |
25 |
74 |
2 |
25 |
113 |
3 |
25 |
100 |
4 |
25 |
76 |
5 |
25 |
103 |
6 |
25 |
70 |
7 |
25 |
80 |
8 |
25 |
92 |
Ipriflavone* |
25 |
58 |
*: 7-isopropoxyisoflavone |
[0008] The compounds of this invention represented by the general formula (I) markedly inhibited
bone resorption, and thus are very useful as the therapeutic agents for metabolic
bone diseases.
[0009] The following examples will illustrate the synthesis method of the compound used
in above experiment.
Referential example 1
5,6-Dihydro-4H-pyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinoline-1,2-dione
[0010] To a solution of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (18.5 g) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran
(THF; 150 ml) was added a solution of oxalyl chloride (22 ml) in anhydrous THF (100
ml) dropwise under reflux and reflux was continued for 3.5 hours. After cooling, the
reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure. To the resulting residue
was added carbon disulfide (800 ml) and refluxed under stirring. To the refluxing
mixture was added aluminum chloride (35 g) portionwise during 5 hours, further refluxed
for 3 hours and then allowed to stand for overnight. To the reaction mixture, under
cooling, was added concentrated hydrochloric acid (150 ml) and then water (150 ml),
extracted with chloroform. The organic layer was washed with water, dried over anhydrous
sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was
recrystallized from ethanol to give the title compound (21 g, 80 %) as dark reddish
needles, mp 198-200 °C.
Referential example 2
8-Nitro-5,6-dihydro-4H-pyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinoline-1,2-dione
[0011] 5,A powder of 6-dihydro-4H-pyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinoline-1,2-dione (5 g) was added
portionwise to nitric acid fuming (20 ml) under cooling below 0 °C and stirring. Further
stirred for an hour, the reaction mixture was allowed to stand in a refrigerator for
overnight. The reaction mixture was poured into ice-water, the resulting precipitate
was collected by filtration and washed with water. The precipitate was dried and recrystallized
from ethanol-n-hexane to give the title compound (3.8 g, 61 %) as orange crystals,
mp 198-199 °C.
Referential example 3
8-Chloro-5,6-dihydro-4-phenyl-4H-pyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinoline-1,2-dione
[0012] A mixture of 5,6-dihydro-4-phenyl-4H-pyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinoline-1,2-dione (3.1 g)
and N-chlorosuccinimide (1.89 g) in dimethylformamide (DMF; 50 ml) was stirred at
80 °C for an hour. After cooling, the mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure
and to the resulting residue was added chloroform (500 ml). The organic layer was
washed with water and saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution, dried over sodium
sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure to give the title compound (3.4 g,
96.8 %). This crystals was recrystallized from acetonitrile to give dark reddish
crystals, mp 173-174 °C.
[0013] Using the procedure described above, compounds shown in table 3 were prepared.

Example 1
6-Chloro-2-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-8-carboxylic acid
[0014] To a solution of 8-chloro-5,6-dihydro-4-phenyl-4H-pyrrolo-[3,2,1-ij]quinoline-1,2-dione
(3.4 g) and sodium hydroxide (2 g) in water (100 ml) was added 35 % aqueous hydrogen
peroxide solution (5 ml) and stirred at room temperature for an hour. The reaction
mixture was acidified slightly by adding concentrated hydrochloric acid, the resulting
precipitate was collected by filtration, washed and dried to give the title compound
(3.17 g, 96.7 %) as yellow crystals. This crystals was recrystallized from ethanol
to pale yellow needles, mp 199-200 °C.
Analysis (%) for C₁₆H₁₄ClNO₂, Calcd. (Found): C, 66.79 (66.83); H, 4.90 (4.96); N,
4.87 (4.89).
[0015] Using the procedure described above, compound shown in table 4 were prepared.

Example 7
2-Phenyl-6-p-toluenesulfonylamino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-8-carboxylic acid
a) Methyl 2-phenyl-6-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-8-carboxylate
[0016] To a solution of 6-nitro-2-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-8-carboxylic acid
in DMF (100 ml) was added potassium carbonate (8.3 g) and methyl iodide (5.5 ml) and
stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. After the insoluble materials were filtered
off, the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure and to the resulting residue
was added ethyl acetate (500 ml). The organic layer was washed with water and saturated
aqueous sodium chloride solution successively, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated
under reduced pressure to give the brown crystals (8.65 g, 93.9 %).
[0017] This crystals were dissolved in DMF-ethanol (1:1, 300 ml), to the solution was added
10 % palladium-charcoal (1 g) and stirred at room temperature and hydrogen atmosphere
for 5 hours. The catalysts were filtered off, the filtrate was concentrated under
reduced pressure to give the title compound (6.97 g, 89.3 %).
b) 2-Phenyl-6-p-toluenesulfonylamino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-8-carboxylic acid
[0018] Methyl 2-phenyl-6-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-8-carboxylate (3.5 g) was dissolved
in dioxane (80 ml). To the solution was added p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (2.84 g)
and triethylamine (2.1 ml) and stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. To the reaction
mixture was added water (300 ml), extracted with ethyl acetate and washed with saturated
aqueous sodium chloride solution. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium
sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was purified
by silica gel column chromatography (eluting with ethyl acetate:n-hexane=1:3) to
give the pale yellow crystals (3.75 g, 69.4 %).
[0019] This crystals were dissolved in ethanol (50 ml). To the solution was added sodium
hydroxide (2 g) and water (20 ml) and refluxed for 3 hours. To the reaction mixture
was added water (300 ml), acidified by adding concentrated hydrochloric acid and resulting
precipitate was collected by filtration. The precipitate was washed with water and
dried to give the title compound (3 g, 82.6 %). This crystals were recrystallized
from ethanol to give the pale yellow crystals, mp 219-220 °C.
Analysis (%) for C₂₃H₂₂N₂O₄S, Calcd. (Found): C, 65.38 (65.29); H, 5.25 (5.18); N,
6.63 (6.56).
Example 8
2-(4-Isopropoxyphenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-8-carboxylic acid
[0020] The compound of example 6 (810 mg) was dissolved in DMF (15 ml). To the solution
was added potassium carbonate (1 g) and isopropyl iodide (1.07 g) and stirred at room
temperature for 22 hours. After the insoluble materials were filtered off, the filtrate
was concentrated under reduced pressure and to the resulting residue was added ethyl
acetate-benzene (1:1, 200 ml). The organic layer was washed with water and saturated
aqueous sodium chloride solution successively, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate
and concentrated under reduced pressure to give the yellow oily materials (930 mg,
87.8 %).
[0021] This oily materials were dissolved in ethanol (10 ml). To the solution was added
1N-aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (5 ml) and refluxed for 5 hours. After cooling,
to the reaction mixture was added water (50 ml) and acidified by adding 1N-hydrochloric
acid. The resulting precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with water and
dried to give the title compound (730 mg, 89.1 %). This crystals were recrystallized
from ethyl acetate-n-hexane to give the yellow crystals, mp 166-167 °C.
Analysis (%) for C₁₉H₂₁NO₃, Calcd. (Found): C, 73.29 (73.24); H, 6.80 (6.80); N, 4.50
(4.39).